Fair or Foul

[Guest Kyle]

Got into a mini argument with my partner after one of our games discussing if the ball is in the air and a fielder is just in the fair-line territory but the ball is going to land foul or tips off the glove and land in foul territory is it a fair or foul ball?

[Replacematt]

Not enough info. 

 

Where the ball was when it was touched determines if it is fair or foul. If any part is over fair territory, it is fair. If not, it is foul.

[Guest kyle]

So its where the ball lands correct?

[Replacematt]

So its where the ball lands correct?

 

Nope. Where is the ball when it is first touched?

[afaber12]

So its where the ball lands correct?

 

Only sometimes, and only when it hasn't yet been touched.

 

It only ever matters where the ball lands for fair/foul when its falls untouched, and its landing somewhere between first/third base and the foul pole. Otherwise its about where the ball is when it passes first/third base, when it passes the foul pole/fence, where it stops untouched before reaching first/third base, or where its touched.

[FleasOf1000Camels]

I can think of MANY things two umpires might argue over.

The definition of fair/foul certainly shouldn't be among them:(

[UMP45]

The ball is called fair/foul in relationship to the foul line.

[CricketChapman]

Got into a mini argument with my partner after one of our games discussing if the ball is in the air and a fielder is just in the fair-line territory but the ball is going to land foul or tips off the glove and land in foul territory is it a fair or foul ball?

But where were the fielder's feet when he touched the ball?  In fair or foul territory? 

[John S.]

I believe it is the point of contact of the ball and the fielder. Then take that point straight down, and if the point on the ground is fair or foul... then.... that's the call. 

 

Fielder can have both feet in foul territory and then stretch back into fair ground and touch the ball and, as said above, can be fair

[HARTUMPIRE]

A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.
A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball.
Rule 2.00 (Fair Ball) Comment: If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair hit.
Clubs, increasingly, are erecting tall foul poles at the fence line with a wire netting extending along the side of the pole on fair territory above the fence to enable the umpires more accurately to judge fair and foul balls.

 

 

A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground.

A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the infielder is on foul or fair territory at the time he touches the ball.
Rule 2.00 (Foul Ball) Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitchers rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.

[MLW0038]

If the ball touches the fielder in fair territory it will be a fair ball, if it touches him in  foul it will be a foul ball...if he is in both fair and foul territory at one, you are going to have to umpire here and make a determination if the ball touches him in fair or foul territory.

 

If a bounding ball crosses a base it is fair (since bases are in fair territory)...

 

Rule 2.00 Fair and Foul Ball will govern.

[Richvee]

If the ball touches the fielder in fair territory it will be a fair ball, if it touches him in  foul it will be a foul ball...if he is in both fair and foul territory at one, you are going to have to umpire here and make a determination if the ball touches him in fair or foul territory.

 

If a bounding ball crosses a base it is fair (since bases are in fair territory)...

 

Rule 2.00 Fair and Foul Ball will govern.

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[BigUmpire]

Got into a mini argument with my partner after one of our games discussing if the ball is in the air and a fielder is just in the fair-line territory but the ball is going to land foul or tips off the glove and land in foul territory is it a fair or foul ball?

If you guys are argueing over THIS- BOTH of you need to find a good clinic to go to before you call anymore games.

Umpiring 101 here.

[UmpJeff]

@MLW0038

 

Wrong.

 

It's where the ball is in relation to the foul line whether it's ruled fair or foul when it's touched by a fielder.  It doesn't matter where the fielder is positioned.

[noumpere]

@MLW0038

 

Wrong.

 

It's where the ball is in relation to the foul line whether it's ruled fair or foul when it's touched by a fielder.  It doesn't matter where the fielder is positioned.

That might be what he meant -- but it's not clear from his wording.

 

either way, I don't think anything was added to the thread that should have been left for dead, imo.

[umpcoachfather]

Was the pitcher taking signs from the rubber?

[FleasOf1000Camels]

How can the rubber give signs?

[Replacematt]

How can the rubber give signs?

If it doesn't seem as elastic as it should be, if it seems dry, if it doesn't unroll easily--those are all signs.